The Elementals: The Last Crimson (1st in the Elementals Series)

Chapter Thirty-Three: Nival

January 20th, 2016

Bright, beautiful, flowing colors hovered in the early morning atmosphere above dozens of trees, a pond, and a shimmering oval structure. The small structure almost seems to breathe along with the body inside of it.

The girl inside breathes softly, slowly, her eyes closed as if she were asleep. Time seemed to stand still for her, her eyes fluttering as she began to dream.

~

"Lyria! Come on downstairs sweetheart!"

Lyria giggles as she runs downstairs. "Merry Christmas honey," Lyria's father says.

"Merry Christmas! Are all of those presents for me?"

Her mother and father laugh. "Most of them are. Here," her mother says as she hands a large box to her, "go on and open it."

~

"I'm adopted?"

"Yes, sweetheart, you are."

"So...I'm not really your daughter?"

"Sweetheart, of course you are! We love you and we always have. You're our daughter and we're your parents, we always will be."

Lyria's parents embrace her and comfort her. "Okay."

~

"Hi, my name is Sophia, what's your name?"

"Lyria."

"That's a really cool name! Would you want to play outside together? After lunch?"

Lyria smiles. "Yes."

"Okay, I'll see you outside!"

~

"Why don't you like me?"

"I do like you Christian, but as friends, not boyfriend-girlfriend."

"You can't at least try?"

"Christian...come on. I've already explained this, way more than I should have to."

"One day, you'll choose me."

"In your dreams."

~

"Did you hear about those new kids? They're kind of weird, aren't they?"

Lyria shrugs before she glances over at the group of new kids. "I mean, they're kind of...interesting."

"Interesting? Lyria, they live in one house together and aren't related. Isn't that weird?"

"Not really. I'm adopted, remember?" She reminds Sophia.

"Oh...yeah. I guess it wouldn't be weird to you."

Lyria shakes her head before smiling slightly. "I don't judge people."

"I'm not judging, I'm just saying..."

"It's not weird," Lyria insists.

~

"Mom, dad, I'm going to bed early. I don't feel very good."

"Alright honey. Sleep well," her mother says.

"I love you mom."

"I love you too."

"Good night dad."

"Goodnight honey, we'll see you in the morning."

The screams of her parents echo through the house as it burns, and Lyria feels herself grow faint, her eyes closing as the ceiling burns.

~

Lyria gasps, then coughs as she opens her eyes. She reaches up and touches the ice above her, sighing softly when she notices she's completely encased in an ice grave.

"I'm so sorry," she murmurs before closing her eyes once again.

~

"You wrote about your brother leaving?" She asks softly and he nods.

"Turn over to the next page," he murmurs softly and she does, her eyes widening as she reads about herself through Dartanian's eyes.

"You wrote about me...why?" She asks him, looking up at him questioningly.

"Because I knew you'd be important. And I'm supposed to keep records of anything significant that happens in my life," he tells her before she closes the book and searches his eyes with her own. He searches her eyes as well, then begins to smile a little. "Pulling you out of your burning home was significant. I knew you'd be important to us," he tells her and she smiles a little.

"But...you also wrote about seeing me in school, and how I'm an excellent photographer," she points out and he shrugs.

"Well, you're a great photographer, Lyria. I can see that, as can everyone else here. But, I find you...interesting. And quite..." he trails off before swallowing thickly, "quite amazing."

~

"Dartanian..."

Lyria reopens her eyes and touches the ice once again, but it doesn't budge. She takes a deep breath before her right hand is engulfed in a blue flame. She touches the ice, pressing her palm harder against it, trying to melt the ice. She stops when the flame in her hand goes out, the only light being the sunrise in the distance.

She closes her eyes once again and rests her hands against her sides, sighing in defeat. "Goodbye," she whispers quietly.

~

"What are we going to do without the girl?"

"We'll get her back soon enough. For now she's...hibernating," Erika murmurs, a sly smile on her lips, "and once we get her back, she'll be quite powerful. The fact she can control four elements already is...remarkable. She's quite strong," the woman reminds them, "I'll be able to control her. She's my daughter after all."

"Didn't seem like you had much control over her last night..." one of her followers mutters and Erika snaps her fingers, the Elemental suddenly engulfed in flames. He screams as the fire burns his skin, and Erika smirks, watching him writhe in pain for a moment before the flames dissipate.

"That's what happens when you say anything against me, understand?" She asks and everyone nods. "Good," she says as two Elementals go to help the burned one, "leave him for now. Take care of him after this meeting."

"Erika...he needs medical attention," a woman insists and Erika raises an eyebrow before taking out a long whip, unraveling it as it begins to crackle with electricity.

"Sit down, now," she orders and everyone does as she says, "we'll get her back, and the plan will go into effect once Lyria is back under our control. She's one of the strongest Elementals alive, and she's going to be on our side."

Erika coils the whip up and attaches it to her belt once again. One of the Elementals raises her hand and Erika nods towards her. "Do you think she'll help us?"

"She will," Erika assures her, "because she's going to end up being like me one day. Explicatio mentis will take her too."